What is Dark Web?
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The dark web is a hidden layer of the internet that is not accessible or indexed by search engines, and that requires specific software
for access. ... The dark web is where stolen information, such as bank account numbers and SSNs, is sold often many times.
Information that is not accessible by normal internet browsers.
For more detailed information please
click here
or search for 'What Is the Dark Web? | Experian'.
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How does Dark Web work?
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A data breach occurs when a cybercriminal successfully infiltrates a data source and extracts sensitive information. One of the
methods used by cybercriminals is Social Attack.
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Social attacks involve tricking or baiting employees and/or customers into giving access to the
company's network. An employee can be duped into giving his/her login credentials or may be fooled into opening a malicious attachment.
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The most widely used method for Social Attack is Phishing.
The goal of a Phishing attempt is to trick the recipient into taking the
attacker's desired action, such as providing login credentials or other sensitive information.
For more detailed information on Phishing please
click here
or search for 'What is a Phishing Attack? Defining and Identifying Different Types'.
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Once the cybercriminal gets into one computer, he/she can then attack the network and tunnel his/her way to confidential company data.
Once the hacker extracts the data, the attack is considered successful. The login credentials are usually user id and password.
The hacker can get sensitive information such as Social Security number and Bank Account informtion.
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For more detailed information on data breaches please
click here
or search for 'Data Breaches 101: How They Happen, What Gets Stolen, and Where It All Goes'.
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Hackers have the incentive to commit data breaches, because the sensitive information stolen through data breach have enormous value
for the hackers. Following is an example of value of sensitive information:
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Social Security number: $30.00
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Date of birth: $11.00
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Health insurance credentials: $20.00
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Visa or MasterCard credentials: $4.00
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For more detailed information on value of sensitive information please
click here
or search for 'What your information is worth on the black market - Bankrate.com'.
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Once a Data Breach is successful, the hackers can monetize the stolen data by selling them through Dark Web.
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What is Dark Web Scan?
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Comapnies like LifeLock and Experian scan Dark Web whether their Paid Customers sensitive data is in Dark Web.
They may also provicde additional services such as credit reporting.
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Who needs Dark Web Scan?
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Any Consumer transacting with Merchants that relay on user id and password for customer verification and/or Merchants that save their Customer
sensitve information such as Credit/Debit Card Number, Bank Account Number, Mobile Number etc. in their servers.
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Even though Merchants do not need to save Credit/Debit Card or Bank Account information for any transaction, the Merchants save them any way
without realizing that it can be hacked.
The solution is not saving sensitive information instead of relying on encryption.
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To minimize the impact of Data Breach, all Merchants advise their Customers to use unique and strong password with each Merchant they
transact with. This solution is not practical and easier said than done.
For example, following are the instructions provided by Experian to their Customers:
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Go "All in" on Using Passwords. ...
Mix up Your Passwords....
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Stay Away From Shady Websites and Links. ...
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Never Give Out Personal Information. ...
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Regularly Check Your Credit Reports. ...
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Establish Fraud Alerts if Needed. ...
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Protect Documents With Personal Information. ...
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Limit Your Exposure.
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For more detailed information on, 'How to Protect Yourself from Identity Theft | Experian' please
click here
or search for 'How to Protect Yourself from Identity Theft | Experian'.
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Unfortunately the instructions provided by Expirian to their customers did not help them to protect their date.
If Expirian had adopted Authentication instead of Veriication Technology, their Customer data woud have never ended up in Dark Web.
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How much does Dark Web Scan cost?
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Usually, it costs a minimum of $9.99 per month per consumer.
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Data Breach Statistics
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In the last measured period which is 2018, the number of data breaches in the United States amounted to 1,244
with over 446.5 million records exposed.
To view the details by year since 2005, please
click here.
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MySingleLink Solution
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MySingleLink has a simple solution to reduce significantly Data Breaches and Credit/Debit Card fraud.
The most widely used technique by advanced hackers is phishing, which is to
disguise their actions to mimic those known and trusted by Merchants. Phishing is possible with
Verification method and not with Authentication method.
MySingleLink takes a pro-active step whereas Dark Web Scan tries to take action after Consumer sensitive information has been hacked.
MySingleLink provides the service for Consumers for free, whereas Dark Web Scan costs a minimum of $9.99 per monthe per Consumer.
By using MySingleLink's Authentication technology, Merchants can authenticate their customers safely without user id and password
and by using MySingleLink's Log-In, Payment and Identification Services,
Merchants can protecct Customers' sensitive information.
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MySingleLink's Password Less Log-Ins and Payment Serevices are free for Consumers.
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